Apparatus for mechanically throwing a base-ball.



M. E. KOEHLER.

APPARATUS FOR MECHANICALLY THROWING A BASE BALL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 1. I915.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I

. 1915. P Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

3 SHEETS SHEET 2.

M. E. KOEHLER.

APPARATUS FOR MECHANICALLY THROWING A BASE BALL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I. 1915. v

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W a I H (MAI/IQ! Q MAXEMILIAN E. IKOEHLER, SPOKANE, WASHINGTON,ASSIG-NOR F 0NE-THIItID Ti) JOHN C. MERWIN AND ONE-THIRD '10 HENRYKBELLER AND W. S. NENNETT.

APPARATUS JFOR MEGHANICALLY THROWTNG A. BASE-BALL. j

, Specification of Letters Patent. I Pa'ib gntefl Au 311 119115 a ease,filed. M nn 1, i915. serial no. 11am.

To all wkomt't may concern: I

Be it known that MAxnM1LniN E. KOEHLER, citizen of the United' States,residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forMechanically Throwing a Base-B ll; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings,

and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in an apparatus for mechanicallythrowing a baseball. u

The primary obJect of this invention is to provide mechanism, which whenset,

.rangement of parts whichwill be hereinafter described and particularlypointed out],

in. the claims.v In the accompanying drawings: Flgure 1 is a perspectiveview of the apparatus, the

parts being in position to just trip the ball throwing lever to throw aball. Fig. 2 is an enlarged-detailview of the lower end of the ballthrowing lever and associated parts. Fig. 3 is an elevation ofthe'apparatus, the parts being in position when the ball is thrown. Fig.4; is a similar view, the parts being shown in normal position and setto receive abaseball. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the rear end of theframe and part of the resetting-mechanism. Fig. 6 is a horizontalsection on the line 00-50 of Fig. 4:.

1 indicates a frame composed of two substantially A-shaped members 2--2,flanged at the bottom at 3, to be bolted to a floor or other support,the members being connected by cross bars 4: and 5. On the upp'er endsof members 2.-2, are mounted bearings 6, which receive trunnions 7, on athrowing arm 8. The outer end of the throwing arm 8, is provided with abaseball cup or holder 9, and located directly below the baseball holderis a catch 10. Extending from one of the trunnions 7,. is an angularlydisposed crankarm 11, provided at its outer end with an ad ustable pin12, secured in a slot 12, in the crank arm, by a nut 13. Pivoted at it,on one of the cross bars 4:, of. the frame, are two operating levers 15,and 16. The upper lever 15,-is formed with a slot 17,'in which fits andslides the pin 12, on the crank arm 11. a

The arm- 15, is formed with an lit-shape frame 18,'which has a downwardextension 19, provided on its end with a head 20. The

this frame projectsfan extension 24, formed at its upper end with abufier 25, which cooperates with the ,head 20. A stid coil spring 26,connects" the frames 18 and 23,

to operate the throwing arm 8, when the levers are turned to spreadapart the frames.

Mounted on the rear of the frame 1, and to the supportfor the apparatus,is a horizontally disposed lever 28, pivoted substantially centrally at29, and to one end of said lever is attached a rope or chain 22, whichat its opposite end is connected to the lower end of the operating lever16. Pivotally con nected to the opposite end of the lever 28, w

is a plunger rod 30, which operates in a cylinder, pivotally connectedat its forward end, as'at 32, to the support for the appsm,

rams The cylinder and P unger rod arid provided with the necessaryelements to act as a pneumatic cushion to relieve the shock when theapparatus is operated. Also connected to the end of the lever 28,adjacent theplunger rod 30, is a spring 33, which acts to reverse thelever when resetting the apparatus, the cushion formed by the plungerand piston absorbing any shock when the parts are returned by thespring.

On one of the lower cross bars 5, of the "frame 1, is a trip lever 35,having its rear end curved upwardly, as at 36, and under this curved enda pin 37, projecting from the operating lever 16, engages, to trip theball throwing lever 8'. The forward end of the trip lever 35, is formedwith a lip 38, which is designed to engage behind the latch 10, on thethrowing lever when the parts are set to throw the ball, as clearlyshown in the drawings. Located adjacent the bottom of the frame is achute 40, from the mouth of which extends a spout 11, which delivers aball to the holder 9, when it is desired to operate the apparatus.

In operation, the spring 33, acting through lever 28, and rope 22,exerts a pull on the lower end of the operating lever 16.

The buffer 25, contacting with the head 20, on the upper operating lever15, causes the two levers to rock on the pivot 14, under the influenceof said spring This movement rocks the ball throwing lever through thecrank and pin connection 11, and 12, until the catch 10, engages the lip38, as shown in Figs. '1, 2 and at. During this operation of setting ofthe parts, the plunger and cylinder act as a pneumatic cushion toreceive the shock incident to the operation of the various levers whensame reach the end of their various movements. At this time a ball isintroduced into the chute and it rolls down the spout and into the ballholder 9.

The ball is now in position, and the parts are set to throw the ball, asshown in Fig. 4. To trip the mechanism so as to swiftly throwthe ball,(assuming the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4) the operatorpulls the cable 21, which rocks the lower operating lever 16, on thepivot 14:, until the pin 37, engages the under side of the trip lever35, and disengages the lip 38, from the catch 10. This movement placesthe spring 26, under tension and also positions the buffer 25, on theextension 24, to receive the shock of the head 20, on the extension 19,of the upper operating lever 15', as shown in Fig. 1. from rocking onits pivot under the influence of the spring 26, during the preliminarymovement of the lever 16, by the catch 10, engaging behind the lip 38,of the trip lever 35. A continued movement of the lever 16, causes thepin 37, to rock the trip lever 35, which disengages the lip 38, from thecatch 10, whereupon the spring 26, now

under tension, exerts a downward pull on the operating lever 15, whichcauses the latter to quickly turn on its pivot 14, which movementthrough the crank 11, and pin 12, impartsa quick swinging movement tothe throwing arm 8, and therefore throws the ball out of the holder 9.When the ball is thrown from the holder 9, by the movement justdescribed, the two operating levers 15, and 16, come into alinement witheach other, at which time the head 20, of lever 15, contacts with thebuffer 25, of the lever 16,

The operating lever 15, is prevented hence the two levers at this timemove together. When the lever 16, is moved it pulls the chain 22, andthe shock is absorbed by the plunger acting in the cylinder, and springThe parts are now in the position shown in Fig. 3, and are ready to bereturned to their normal position upon release of the pull on the rope21. Immediately the pull on the rope 21 is released, the spring rocksthelever 28, and operating lever 16, and through the buffer 25, and head20, the lever 15 is rocked, which in turn swings the ball throwing leveron its trunnion to normal position, as shown in Fig. 4:.

From the foregoing description it is evident that a ball throwingapparatus is provided, which automatically sets itself to receive theball to be thrown, and which is so constructed that undue shocks on thevarious parts, when a ball is thrown, or when the parts are set to throwthe ball, is reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, the constructiondescribed is such that because of the arrangement of the levers, aquick, speedy movement is imparted to the ball, and notwithstanding thefact that the throwing arm operates rapidly, sudden jar of the partswhen the said arm reaches its extreme limit of movements, is dispensedwith. If desired, the operating levers 15 and 16, may be mounted betweenthe frame members, but as this change in construction does not alter theimprovement from an inventive standpoint, it is not thought necessary toillustrate same.

What is claimed is .1. In a. ball throwing apparatus, the combination ofa frame, a swinging ball throwing arm mounted on the frame, means at theouter end of the arm to receive a ball, a crank on said arm, a pivotedoperating lever formed with an extension, a second operating leverpivoted co-extensive with the first mentioned lever and formed with anextension, said extensions forming abutments, a spring between the twolevers, a catch for locking the ball throwing arm in set position, meansfor operating the second mentioned lever to place the spring undertension to throw a ball, and means on said second mentioned lever fordisengaging the catch to allow the spring to actuate the arm andthrowthe ball.

2. In a ball throwing apparatus, the c'ombination of a frame, a swingingball throwing arm mounted on the frame, m vans at the free end of thearm to receive a ball, a crank on said arm, an operating lever pivotedto the frame, said lever having an extension, a second operating leverpivoted coextensive with the first mentioned lever and formed with anextension, the extensions forming abutments, a spring for drawing theabutments together and for operating the ball throwing arm, a catch forholding the ball throwing arm in set position, means for operating thesecond mentioned operating lever to place the spring under tension tothrow the ball, means on the second mentioned lever for disengaging thecatch to allow the spring to throw the ball, and means for automaticallysetting the ball throwing arm.

3. In a ball throwing apparatus, the com bination of a frame, a swlngingball throwing arm having means to receive a ball, a crank on said ballthrowing arm, a pivoted operating lever engaging thecrank, a springattached to the pivoted lever whlch when placed under tension operatesthe ball throwing arm to throw the ball, means operating in connectionwith the operating lever for automatically setting the ball throwingarm, means for holding the ball-throwing arm in set position, means forabsorbing the shock of the parts when the arm is thrown to set position,and means for releasing the catch to allow the spring to throw the ball.

4. In a ball throwing apparatus, the combination of a frame, a ballthrowing arm having means for holding a ball, means for holding the ballthrowing arm in set position, means for operating the ball throwing arm,automatic means connected with the latter means for setting the ballthrowing arm including aspring and a buffer, and means for tripping theball throwing arm, said spring and bufier acting to absorb the shock ofthe parts when the ball is thrown.

5. In a ball throwing apparatus, the combination of a frame, a ballthrowing arm mounted on the frame, means including two pivoted operatinglevers having extensions which normally contact with each other, aspring interposed between said operating levers for operating the ballthrowing arm, automatic means cooperating with the two operating leversfor setting the ball. throwing arm, said automatic means comprising apivoted lever and a spring between said lever and the frame, a catch forholding the ball throwing arm in set position, and means operated by oneof the operating levers for tripping the catch to throw the ball.

6. In a ball throwing apparatus, the combination of a frame, a hallthrowing arm mounted on the frame, a crank on the ball throwing arm, anoperating lever having a slot which receives the crank, said leverhaving an extension, a second operating lever pivoted to swing on thesame pivot as the first mentioned operating lever and provided with abuffer against which the extension operates, a pivoted resetting lever,a spring connected to the resetting lever, a cushion device connected tosaid resetting lever, a connection between said resetting lever and thesecond mentioned operating lever, a catch for holding the ball throwingarm in set position, and a pin on the second mentioned operating leverfor operating the and means for moving the operating lever to disengagethe catch to cause the first mentioned spring to operate the ballthrowing element.

8. In a ball throwing apparatus, the combination of a frame, a ballthrowing element mounted on the frame, means for operating said elementto throw a ball including a spring and an operating lever, a catch forholding the ball throwing element in set position, automatic meansconnected with the operating lever including a pivoted lever, a bufferand a spring for setting the ball throwing element, means for moving theoperating lever to disengage the catch to cause the first mentionedspring to operate the ball throwing element, and means for introducing aball to the ball throwing element when the latter is in set position.

9. In a baseball throwing apparatus, the combination of a frame, a ballthrowing arm mounted on the frame, a ball support onthe end of the arm,a crank on said arm, two operating levers mounted on single pivot, oneof said operating levers having a slot for receiving the crank, saidlever having an extension the other of said operating levers having anextension, a buffer interposed between the two operating levers, aspring between the two levers, automatic setting mechanism connected toone of the operating levers including a spring and pivoted lever, thelever moving when the ball throwing armis operated 1n either directionand the spring serving to restore said lever to normal position, a catchfor holding the ball throwing arm in set position, and a trip on one ofthe operating levers for re leasing the catch to permit the first mentioned spring to operate the hall throwing arm.

10. In a base ball throwing apparatus, the combination of a frame, aball throwing arm mounted on the frame, a ball support on the end of thearm, a crank on said arm, two operating levers mounted on a singlepivot, one of said operating levers having a slot for receiving thecrank, said lever having an extension, the other of said operatinglevers having an extension, a buffer interposed between the twooperating levers, a spring between the two levers, automatic hit ltltllltll ltd setting mechanism connected to one of the operating leversincluding a cushion device, and a spring and pivoted lever the levermoving when the ball throwing arm is operated in either direction andthe spring serving to restore the arm to its normal position, a pivotedcatch for holding the ball throwing arm in set position, and a pin onthe second mentioned operating lever for reball throwing arm in setposition, means on the second mentioned lever for releasing the catch,and means operating on the second mentioned operating lever to set theball throwingiarm in operative position.

12. In. a ball throwing apparatus, the combination of a frame, a ballthrowing arm mounted on the frame, a-pivoted operating lever for settingand operating the ball throwing arm, said lever having an extension, asecond pivoted operating lever having an extension, a cushion interposedbetween the extensions, a spring between the extensionsto operate theball throwing arm when the second mentioned operating lever is turned onits pivot, a catch to hold the ball throwing arm in set position, meanson V the second mentioned lever for releasing the catch, and meansoperating on the second mentioned operating lever to set the ballthrowing arm in operative position including a spring and a cushion torelieve theshock when the ball throwing arm is oper-- ated in eitherdirection.

13. In a ball throwing apparatus, the combination of a pivoted ballthrowing arm, a crank on said arm, a pivoted operating lever having aslot which receives the crank, a catch for holding the ball throwing armin set position, and means including aspring and a second operatinglever for releasing the catch and operating the ball name to thisspecification in the two subscribing witnesses.

throwing arm to throw a ball under the influence of said spring.

14. In a ball throwing apparatus, the combination of a ivoted ballthrowing arm, a crank on sai arm, a pivoted operating lever having aslot which receives the crank, a catch for holding the ball throwing armin set position, means including a spring and a second operating leverfor releasing the catch an operating the ball throwing arm to throw aball under the influence of said spring, the two operating levers havingportions which abut when the ball throwing arm is in set or ballthrowing positions, and means connected to the second mentioned 0crating lever for absorbing the shock w en the ball throwing arm isoperated.

15..In a ball throwing apparatus, the combination of a ball throwingarm, a catch for holding said arm in set position, means including apairof pivoted operating levers and a spring between said levers for settingand operating to release the ball throwing arm, connecting means betweenthe ball throwing arm and one of the operating levers, a trip on one ofthe operating levers to release the catch to cause the spring to turnthe other operating lever to operate the ball throwing arm, and a bufierbetween the operating levers to absorb the shock when the ball is thrownby the ball arm.

16. In a ball throwing apparatus, the combination of a ball throwingarm, two pivotally mounted operating levers for setting and operatingthe ball throwin arm, a spring between the two 0 crating devers, a catchfor holding the half throwing arm in set position, a trip on one of theoperating levers, the operating lever having the trip when turned on itspivot, expanding the spring and when the catch is released said springoperates the other of said operating levers and rocks the ball throwingarm, the said operatin limit the movement 0 arm. r

In testimony whereof I have signed my presence of levers abutting to theball throwing MAX. E. KOEHLER.

Witnesses GEORGE MERWIN, JOHN Samscnnr.

